The Holiday Escape by Heidi Swain

Author:Heidi Swain
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
Published: 2024-04-25T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

Not surprisingly, I didn’t sleep well, so I took advantage of the fact that I was awake hours before the first guests were due to arrive. I checked the tide times and headed down to the beach for a swim. I hadn’t expected to want to dive in again after that first icy plunge, but Mum had been right, swimming in the sea was both invigorating and addictive. I couldn’t help wishing that I had given it a go when she was alive, rather than make excuses every time she had asked me to join her.

It was a warm, sunny morning and I made a point of mindfully breathing in the fresh sea air and admiring the wildflowers that lined the path beyond the garden and led down to the beach. I tuned in to the sounds, too. The call of the kittiwakes, after which the cove was named, wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I realised I’d grown to like the cacophony.

There was no one else on the beach and I quickly undressed, pulled on Mum’s neoprene gloves and booties and walked down to the shore. It was only then that I noticed someone climbing up the steps and on to the pontoon. I could tell it was Logan from the way he dived back into the sea and I quickly waded in to the water, feeling pleased that I’d made the effort to make the most of the early start.

I was more than halfway across when I realised he wasn’t alone. The person with him had been out of sight behind the pontoon but as I approached, they appeared and climbed out using the steps. I began to tread water, wondering if I could turn back unnoticed, but then Logan jumped up and pointed me out and the person with him waved.

I could see then that it was Tara and she looked stunning. Her classically cut one-piece showed off her perfect figure and there wasn’t a neoprene glove or booty in sight. I reluctantly began to swim towards them, wishing I’d braved the cold and left the accessories at home.

‘Ally,’ said Logan. ‘What with it being a Saturday, I didn’t think you’d be swimming today.’

With the pair of them watching, it had seemed to take forever to cover the distance and I held on to the steps to catch my breath before climbing out.

‘Our guests aren’t due until later,’ I puffed, as I joined them. ‘But I still can’t be too long because I’ll need to get showered before they arrive. Hey, Tara,’ I added.

‘Hey yourself,’ she smiled. Her face looked as beautiful devoid of cosmetics as it was made up. ‘What are you wearing?’ She frowned, her eyes tracking down.

I looked at my feet and wiggled my toes.

‘They were Mum’s,’ I said, pulling the gloves off before sitting down and tucking my feet under me. ‘They keep my extremities warm.’

‘What a brilliant idea,’ she said, picking up one of the gloves. ‘I should have thought of that.

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